Thermostat control air distributing unit



Oct. 14, 1958 J. P. coNLAN THERMOSTAT CONTROL AIR DISTRIBUTING UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. l1, 1957 va RN mm 772/ /2 mm /45 mu. fw im a m P, my 2 x M .W, 4 J m fr@ 4 m m... ./m M w w /m No? m E m E .C Z A m. ./Wu a v /M I www) 7 M ffm/ifi? Q m 3 MN 1 Mm Oct. 14, 1958 J. P. coNLAN 2,856,13

THERMOSTAT CONTROL AIR DISTRIBUTING UNIT Filed Feb. 11, 1957 2 sheets-sheet 2l wmmmmmwmmmmmm,

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United States Patent THERMUSTAT CONTRL AIR DISTRIBUTING UNIT John P. Conlan, New York, N. Y. Application February 11, 1957, Serial No. 639,545 SiCaims. (Cl. 236-13) This inventionrelates ygenerally to air distribution apparatus and'more 'particularly touan `air distribution unit for mounting on a supporting wallorceiling and having ainovel fluid pressure controlled valve so that warm air and cool air may `be simultaneously r drawn 1thereinto, fully and swiftly-intermixed and distributed to a selected room or building spa-ce, and further designed to effect the automatic selection of warm or cool air each to the exclusion-of the other, again with the effective intermixing and distribution necessary for comfortable and eicient roo-m or building air conditioning.

Important objectsof the invention are:

First, to provide a unit as `described that will respond immediately and accurately to the call of a room thermovstat in a manner `to produce continuous distribution of air at the necessary temperature to meet the call;`

Second, to form a unit as described that will bea selfcontained assemblyreadily mounted at any desired locar, tion on a ceiling or supporting wall;

Third, to form the device in suchmannerthat it will bcreadily connected in previously installedair heating, `cooling or `conditioning systems;

Fourth, toprovide an improved type of :la combined fluid. pressure and temperature responsive valve control device for use inside oroutsidethe unit;

Fifth, to provide adevice as stated that is particularly .adapted for manufacture at low cost, that is simple in construction, etlicient andtrouble-free in operation, rugged, and composed of.a `minimum number of parts simply designed in amanner` suchthat they will not readily get Sixthfto provide afdevicethat is designed in a manner .to receive one hundred vpercentair flow, with norrestriction `on the outside of the box in hot or cold air intake to prevent. same from entering box.

For further comprehension ofthe invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the followingdescription and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

in the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of an air distribution apparatus made according to the invention, with the cover plate removed.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken yon the plane of the line 2 2 of Fig. l, with the cover plate shown thereon.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view taken on the plane of the line 33 of Fig. 1.

yReferring to the drawings in detail, the apparatus may be mounted either upon a wall or ceiling. In the illustrated example, it is mounted upon the ceiling C. The apparatus includes a rectangular metalhousing having a back wall l2 attachable to the ceiling or other supporting surface, side walls 14, 16, 18, 2l) projecting outwardly from the back wall, an open front, a cover plate 22 removably attached by screws 23 for normally closing vthe :open front, Vinsulation 24 covering the :back Zand -side walls and insulationl26-on1the cover plate.

Warm'and cool airiinlet openings 28, 30 are formed inopposed walls .14, 18, respectively, the openings being pipe 36, for example, to a cool air inlet pipe 40. The

other ends 42 of'thetelbow pipes extend parallel'to walls Maud `18, respectively,.and.open into the interior of the housing. The` ends 42 of thej pipes are` each formed with opposed bearing `openings formed with tubular hub portions 44 therearound.

A shaft 46 extends across the housing between the open ends 42 of the elbow pipes, `with its ends 48 extend- `ing through the bearing openings therein and across the spaces in saidopenends, the ends of the shaft being journalle'd in the hub portions 44. A butterfly valve or damper is mounted in the opening in each. end42 of the elbow pipes 36 and 38. This damper includes a discshaped body or blade 52 having a central tubular bearing portion54 across its center and receiving lixedlythe end of the shaft so that uponturning of the` shaft the disc'or blade 52 rotates therewith. The inner surface of each end 42 of the elbowpipesis preferablyllined ywith felt 56 to provide airseal between the disc-shaped body 52 and the elbow pipe.

The mechanism for turning the shaft 46 upon change of temperature in aroom will now be described, Medially between the side walls 14 and 18ct the housing, a T-shaped supporting plateSS is secured to the back wall 12 by boltstl. An elongated cylindrical casing 62 is longitudinally mountedfon the longleg'o-f lthe plate and is secured thereto by bolts 64 passing through perforated ears 66 on the sides of the casing and'extending into the plate 58. The casingis internally screw-threaded at one end and is closed at said end by a dome-shaped plate 68 having an externally threaded annular iiange 70 thread ed into said end.

The plate 68 is provided with an outwardly extending integral neck portion 72 which is externally screw-threaded for joining with an internally threaded cap 74. Cap 74 also is provided with an internally screw-threaded neck portion 76 .for'connecting the casing 62 to the threaded end of an air supply pipe 78, theother end of the pipebeing `connected to a room thermostat, shown diagrammatically at tl. The thermostat is of the type adapted Yto create varying air pressures in pipe 78 responsive to correspondingly varying temperatures impinging upon the thermostat. A tlat plate 82 closes the other end ofthe casing. Plate 82 is formed with an annular externally threaded flange 84 coacting with the adjacent internallythreadedend of tbe casing. Closure plate 68 is formed with an internally screw-threaded. central opening 36 and the closureplate 82 is formed with a smoothwalled central opening 88.

Within the .casing` 62, there is an all metal bellows unit indicated generally at and consisting of a tubular bellows body 92. The bellows bodyis closed at one end by a circular plate or disk 94, the end of the bellows body being adapted to seat on the peripheral edge ofthe plate. The `plate is 'formed with a tapered boss 93 extending from the inner `surface thereof and is formed with a nipple portion 96extending from the opposite surface. The plate and nipple are formed with an axial passage 99. Nipple'portion 96 is externally screw-threaded and is seated in the internally screw-threaded socket portion formed in the hub portion 97 of the closure plate 68, and in the opening 86 in said plate 68. A hollow cylindrical or tubular member 95 extends through the bellows body 92 and is formed at one end with an integral wall or disk 98 formed with an annular ange 101. The wall or disk 98 closes the other end of the bellows body with the end edge of the bellows body fastened on the ange 101. The free end of the cylindrical or tubular body 95 is formed with an inwardly directed tapered bead 103 which seats on the tapered boss 93 of the plate 94. The wall or disk 98 is formed at its center with an inwardly extending cylindrical socket portion 100 internally screwthreaded to receive the threaded inner end of a rod 102. The rodextends outwardly of the casing 62 through the opening in the closure plate 82. The outer end of the rod extends over and adjacent to the shaft 46 and is formed with rack teeth 104 thereat meshing with a spur gear 106 fastened to shaft 46 at its center. The wall or disk 98 and the cylindrical or tubular member 95 constitute a solid fixture for supporting one end of the bellows body 92, the tubular member 95 also serving to guide the bellows in its movements.

The bellows body 92 is formed of stainless steel and has a long life and a high resistance to heat or chemical action. It will withstand an internal pressure of 250 pounds per square inch. It may also be made of brass or bronze.

A compression spring 108 encircles the inner end of rod 102 and is interposed between a seat 110 on the closure plate 82 of casing 62 and the closure disk 98 of the bellows body 92 for urging the bellows body to contracted condition. At the same time, the spring forces the beaded portion 103 of the tubular member 95 onto its seat on the tapered boss 93 of plate 94. A nut 112 mounted on a threaded portion 114 of the rod 102 outwardly of the casing 62, adjacent closure plate 82, is adapted to move the rod 102 longitudinally in order to adjust the tension of the spring.

It will be noted that the centrally open plate 94, nipple 96, plate 68 and cap 74 define an air line connecting the end of the air supply pipe 78 with the interior of the bellows body 92.

In case the bellows body 92 develops a leak, the cylindrical or tubular member 95 seals oi the bellows body so that pressure cannot build up inside the bellows body as the spring 108 will push the bellows body and tubular member 95 whereby the beaded portion 103 of the tubular member impinges against the tapered boss 93 of plate 94 forming a seal at this point and thus preventing any outside air or foreign matter to be forced back through the air passage 99 in the plate 94 and nipple portion 96 to the thermostat which would interfere with the operation of the apparatus.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

When the thermostat 80 in the room registers at a set temperature, the air will pass through the pipe 78, the cap 74, plate 68, nipple 96 and plate 94, into the tubular member 95, causing the bellows body 92 to expand, pushing the rod 102 outwardly thereby turning the shaft 46 which in turn actuates the dampers 52, 52 in the pipes 34 and 36. The dampers are arranged so that when the disk-shaped body or blade of one of them is disposed across the opening in its respective pipe to close said pipe, the disk-shaped body or blade in the opening in the other pipe is oppositely positioned, that is, disposed parallel to the axis of the pipe end, in open position. Therefore, assuming, for example, that the thermostat calls for more heat, the rod 102 is displaced to an extent such as to open the warm air inlet while at the same time closing the cool air inlet. Warm air is lead into the housing heater, not shown. When the thermostat calls for cooling air, the rod 102 is oppositely shifted to open the cool air inlet 30, and toV close the warm air inlet 28. The air is drawn through either inlet by aspiration caused by suction fans or the like, not shown, arranged to draw air out of the housing through a pair of outlet ducts to be described.

When the room cools to seventy degrees, for example, the thermostat releases air which exhausts itself from bellows through plate 94, nipple 96, plate 68, cap 74, pipe 78 to the thermostat. In this operation, bellows 90 contracts with the help of spring 108.

Within the housing 10 is an air mixing assembly 116 comprising a frame 118 pivotally supporting Vanes 120 by means of pivots 122 extending through aligned openings in the frame.

Extending from wall 16 are spaced outlet conduits 124 and 126 to which distribution ducts, not shown, are connectible. The warm air inlet duct 38 is connected between the warm air inlet 28 and the heat supply. The cool air inlet is opened to the room to receive ambient air. When the thermostat is not calling for higher or lower air temperatures in the manner previously discussed and is neutrally positioned, both the warm and cool air inlets are partially open so that air will be drawn through both as shown in Fig. l, with the currents intermixing in advance of the mixing assembly 116. Then the air is drawn through the assembly causing the air to be even more thoroughly intermixed before passage into conduits 124 and 126.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. An air distribution apparatus comprising a rectangular-shaped housing having warm and cool air inlets in respectively opposite side walls thereof and outlets in another of its walls, elbow pipes in the housing connected at one end to said inlets, damper means in the other end of said elbow pipes, means movably mounted within the housing connecting the respective damper means for conjoint operation thereof, and temperature responsive means for moving the connecting means to operate the damper means, said damper means comprising like, rotatable disc-shaped plates in the free end of the elbow pipes, said connecting means including a shaft with its ends journalled in the free ends of said elbow pipes and fixed to said disc-shaped plates, a gear fixed on said shaft intermediate its ends, said temperature responsive means including a bellows in the housing, a rod operatively connected at one end to said bellows, and rack teeth on the other end of said rod intermeshing with the gear on said shaft for turning the shaft.

2. An air distribution apparatus comprising a rectangular-shaped housing having warm and cool air inlets in respectively opposite side walls thereof and outlets in another of its walls, elbow pipes in the housing connected at one end to said inlets, damper means in the other end of said elbow pipes, means movably mounted within the housing connecting the respective damper means for conjoint operation thereof, and temperature responsive means for moving the connecting means to operate the damper means, said damper means comprising like, rotatable disc-shaped plates in the free ends of the elbow pipes, said connecting means including a shaft with its ends journalled in the free ends of said elbow pipes .and fixed to said disc-shaped plates, a gear xed on said shaft intermediate its ends, said temperature responsive means including a hollow casing in the housing, a bellows in said casing, an air supply line operatively connected to one end of said bellows, a thermostat connected to the other end of said supply line, a rod operatively connected at one end to the other end of said bellows, and rack teeth on the other end of said rod intermeshing with the gear on said shaft for turning the shaft.

3. An air distribution appa atus comprising a rectangular-shaped housing having warm and cool air inlets in respectively opposite side walls thereof and outlets in another of its walls, elbow pipes in the housing connected at one end to said inlets, damper means in the other end of said elbow pipes, means movably mounted within the housing connecting the respective damper means for conjoint operation thereof, and temperature responsive means for moving the connecting means to operate the damper means, said damper means comprising like, rotatable disc-shaped plates in the free ends of the elbow pipes, said connecting means including a shaft with its ends journalled in the free ends of said elbow pipes and xed to said disc-shaped plates, a gear fixed on said shaft intermediate its ends, said temperature responsive means including a hollow casing in the housing, a bellows in said casing, an air supply line operatively connected to one end of said bellows, a thermostat connected to the other end of said supply line, a rod operatively connected `at one end to the other of said bellows, and rack teeth on the other end of said rod intermeshing with the gear on said shaft for turning the shaft, and spring means interposed between the end of the casing land one end `of the bellows for urging said bellows to contracted condition.

4. An air distribution apparatus comprising a rectangular-shaped housing having warm and cool air inlets in respectively opposite side walls thereof and outlets in another of its walls, elbow pipes in the housing connected at one end to said inlets, damper means in the other end of said elbow pipes, means movably mounted within the housing connecting the respective damper means for conjoint operation thereof, and temperature responsive means for moving the connecting means to operate the damper means, said damper means comprising like, rotatable disc-shaped plates in the free ends of the elbow pipes, said connecting means including a shaft with its ends journalled in the free ends of said elbow pipes and fixed to said disc-shaped plates, a gear fixed on said shaft intermediate its ends, said temperature responsive means including a hollow casing in the housing, a bellows in said casing, an air supply line operatively connected to one end of said bellows, a thermostat connected to the other end of said supply line, a rod operatively connected at one end to the other end of said bellows, rack teeth on the other end of said rod intermeshing with the gear on said shaft for turning the shaft, spring means interposed between the end of the casing and one end of the bellows for urging said bellows to contracted condition, said rod having an externally threaded portion intermediate its ends outwardly of the casing, and a nut on said threaded portion for moving said rod longitudiis-tlly to tension the spring means.

5. An air distribution apparatus comprising a rectangular-shaped housing having warm and cool air inlets in respectively opposite side walls thereof and outlets in another `of its walls, elbow pipes in the housing connected at one end to said inlets, damper means in the other end of said elbow pipes, means movably mounted within the housing connecting the respective damper means for conjoint operation thereof, and temperature responsive means for moving the connecting means to operate the damper means, said damper means comprising like, rotatable disc-shaped plates in the free ends of the elbow pipes, said connecting means including a shaft with its ends journalled in the free ends of said elbow pipes and fixed to said disc-shaped plates, a gear xed on said shaft intermediate its ends, said temperature responsive means including a hollow casing in the housing, a bellows in said casing, an air supply line operatively connected to one end of said bellows, a thermostat connected to the other end of said supply line, a rod operatively connected at one end to the yother end of said bellows, and rack teeth on the other end of said rod intermeshing with the gear on said shaft for turning the shaft, said air supply line including Ia closure plate closing one end of the casing, said closure plate having a central opening, a neck portion extending outwardly of said opening, a closure disc closing the adjacent end of the bellows, said disc having a central opening, a nipple on said disc communicating with the opening in the disc, a cap on said neck portion of the closure plate, said cap having a central opening, and an air supply pipe having one end connected to said cap` at its central opening, and its other end to an air supply.`

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,441,317 Walsh et al Jan. 9, 1923 2,216,551 Ewald Oct. 1, 1940 2,463,640 Plett Mar. 8, 1949 2,720,151 Kreuttner IOct. 11, 1955 2,729,429 Goemann Jan. 3, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 163,906 Australia July 5, 1955 253,317 Great Britain June 17, 1926 594,608 France lune 29, 1925 

